▲ The entrance of the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission in central Seoul is seen on June 24, 2026, as investigators conduct a search and seizure to secure evidence related to ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections. (Yonhap)
▲ Protesters wave Korean and American flags outside the Olympic Park Handball Stadium in southern Seoul on June 23, 2026, as part of protests demanding a rerun of the June 3 local elections marred by ballot shortages. (Yonhap)

(2nd LD) ballot shortage-probe

(2nd LD) Investigators question election officials over ballot shortage

(ATTN: ADDS photo, details on ballot counting center blockade in last 5 paras)

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- Two election officials who oversaw polling stations hit by ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections appeared before investigators on Thursday to undergo questioning over the incident, legal sources said.

A joint police and prosecution team called in the Songpa District Election Commission officials to question them about the election watchdog's internal instructions in response to the shortages, according to the sources.

The team is probing allegations that the National Election Commission (NEC) hastily decided to reduce the number of printed ballots and failed to respond effectively to ballot shortages on election day.

The team was also set to question nine local government officials who distributed ballots at polling stations in Seoul that ran out of ballot papers. The team plans to question them about the election watchdog's response measures to the shortages.

The questioning session comes a day after the joint investigation team raided the offices of 12 election commission officials who oversaw polling stations in Seoul that experienced ballot shortages.

Meanwhile, protesters demanding a rerun of the elections continued to rally outside the Olympic Park Handball Stadium in southern Seoul for the 21st day Thursday.

Protesters have blocked access to the stadium, which served as a ballot counting site during the elections, since June 5 to prevent the removal of ballot boxes inside.

The drawn-out blockade has prevented sports organizations from entering the stadium, prompting the culture ministry to send an official request Thursday for cooperation from the NEC to remove election-related items from the site.

In the request, the ministry asked the NEC to swiftly take the items out to allow sports organizations based at the stadium to resume normal operations.

An NEC official said the election watchdog was making effort to remove the items, noting that it has already requested cooperation from the police and the interior ministry.

The police have refrained from forcibly entering the site due to potential safety concerns.

Yoo Jae-seong, acting chief of the National Police Agency, earlier stressed the need for "social consensus" to remove the ballot boxes from the stadium.

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